A MAN who stabbed a man in the stomach has been sentenced to four years’ detention in a youth offender institution.

Ryan James Sutton, was found guilty of unlawfully wounding Mark Davidson at a house in Weighbridge Close, Kirkbymoorside, on April 30.

He was cleared by a jury at Leeds Crown Court last month of attempted murder and of wounding with intent.

The Recorder of Leeds, Judge Peter Collier QC, said Sutton, who was 18 at the time of the incident, posed a risk to the public when faced with difficult situations.

He added that Sutton had amassed a significant record, having appearing for sentence on 23 previous occasions for 36 offences.

Judge Collier said the jury had accepted by their verdicts on this occasion that he did not intend to kill or seriously injure Mr Davidson but rejected his account that he used excessive self-defence.

He said: “I accept you had a history with Mr Davidson. Some years ago you stole a satellite navigation system from the father of a friend of his and that he and the friend had assaulted you and held a grudge about that incident.”

In April, Sutton had heard that Mr Davidson was at a friend’s home and gone there with a knife.

Judge Collier added: “For whatever purpose, when you saw him there you, clearly affected by drink, lost your temper and you attacked him with the knife.

“He tried to hide behind a table using it as a shield, but you chased him round the table and lunged at him with the knife several times.”

The pair had ended up on the floor and Mr Davidson was stabbed in the stomach with the knife penetrating through his abdomen.

Although the knife had hit no vital organs, Mr Davidson had developed peritonitis and had to have an operation which had left him scarred.

Andrew Semple, representing Sutton, recently of Osgodby Hall Road, Osgodby, said the defendant came from a troubled background but the incident happened on the spur of the moment after an argument.